Two step smart key start system

ABSTRACT

A ignition start system in which authentication of a key is carried out twice, first to activate the ignition switch to allow starting the engine and second at the time when the brake pedal is depressed to put the car in a drive gear. The two step authentication prevents driving off in a car that has been started without having the key for security purposes and also to avoid inconvenient situations that can otherwise occur.

PRIORITY

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/036,250, filed Sep. 25, 2013, which is a divisional of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/858,071, filed Aug. 17, 2010, now U.S.Pat. No. 8,548,645, issued on Oct. 1, 2013, which claims the benefit ofU.S. Provisional Application No. 61/234,434 filed on Aug. 17, 2009, allof which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entiretyand made part of the present application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention concerns keyless automobile lock and ignition systems(often referred to as smart key) in which the presence of a key fob iselectronically detected by means of a radio pulse transponder in the keyfob and antennas in the car body. In these systems, the car is unlockedautomatically when the handle is operated or a button pushed. Locking isaccomplished in a similar way or by simply walking away.

The ignition switch is also operated without the need to insert a keyinto the ignition switch lock by the same wireless detection of thepresence of the key fob in the passenger compartment. The systemneutralizes the electronic immobilizer usually now included inautomobile electronics and allows starting the car by simply pushing abutton or turning the ignition switch without the need to insert a keyinto the switch.

While very convenient, this system creates possibilities of securityrisks and also allows inconvenient situations to inadvertently arise.

For example, if after starting, the driver momentarily exits the car andsomehow leaves the key fob somewhere before reentering the car, he orshe can drive off, and then after reaching a destination cannot restartthe car since the key fob is not present. A manual operation using thekey is also not possible if the key is left with the fob.

While a warning message is displayed on the instrument panel in somedesigns, indicating that the key fob is not detected by the system, itis easy to not notice this displayed message which may be blocked by thesteering wheel.

In another common situation which could be encountered, if a driverallows a valet attendant to drive off with the car, if the driver doesnot give the key fob to the attendant, the attendant will be unable tostart the car when retrieving the car until after obtaining the key fobfrom the driver, slowing the return of the car to the driver.

Also, if the valet forgets to surrender the key fob to the owner, theowner can unknowingly drive away without the key fob and subsequently beunable to restart the car (which usually is left running while theattendant gets out and the owner enters the car).

Security risks can also arise, as where a car is inadvertently leftrunning (which can be very quiet and nearly undetectable in many cars)and with the doors unlocked, such that a thief can simply enter anddrive off in the car.

With newer locking systems, it is easy for a driver to think the car hasbeen locked when in fact the locking has not been accomplished.

Again, beep cues or visual displays can easily be missed, particularlywhen a driver is in a hurry.

It is also known to lock the transmission shift lever until the key fobis authenticated by the smart key controller system as described in U.S.2009/0151412A1. However, once authentication has occurred in thatsystem, the transmission shift lever can be freely operated such thatthe above problems are still encountered.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide akeyless or smart key system of the type described which has a fail-safefeature that insures that the above described inconvenience or securityrisk situations are positively prevented without the need for particularattentiveness of the driver the location of the key fob on to relatedbeep cues or displays.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above recited object and other objects which will be understood upona reading of the following specification and claims are achieved by atwo-step detection authentication process in which after the presence ofthe key fob initially authenticated, the ignition button or switch isactivated for keyless starting as in prior systems. A shift leverinterlock is also included, controlled by the keyless system controller,positively preventing shifting of the transmission shift lever into adrive gear unless the owner's key-fob is detected by the system as beingpresent within the passenger compartment at the time the driver pressesthe brake pedal in order to allow shifting into a drive gear.

Thus, if the car is started and idling in park (or neutral), the shiftlever cannot be shifted into a drive gear, positively preventing drivingthe car away unless the key-fob is detected and authenticated by thesystem at the same time as the shifting attempt is made.

This positively prevents the inconvenient situations and security risksarising from a car being able to be driven away without the key-fobbeing located in the passenger compartment of the car, such that theattentiveness of the operator is not required in order to insure thatsuch situations will not arise.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a pictorial diagrammatic view of a portion of the passengercompartment of an automobile with keyless system components includedaccording to the present invention being depicted diagrammatically.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of components of the keyless system depictingthe two step detection authentication operation of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, certain specific terminology willbe employed for the sake of clarity and a particular embodimentdescribed in accordance with the requirements of 35 USC 112, but it isto be understood that the same is not intended to be limiting and shouldnot be so construed inasmuch as the invention is capable of taking manyforms and variations within the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to FIG. 1, a portion of the interior of an automobilepassenger compartment 10 is shown in fragmentary form.

A center console mounted transmission shift lever 12 is provided inconventional fashion. A dash mounted starter button 14 is provided (or aturnable ignition switch which could also accept a key). A keylesssystem controller 16 is depicted diagrammatically which detects thepresence of a coded key fob 18 in the passenger compartment 10 as by oneor more car body mounted antennas 20 receiving transponder coded pulsecodes transmitted by the key-fob 18 when interrogated by the smart keycontroller 16 in the well known manner.

The system controller 16 enables the ignition push button 14 when thepresence of the correctly coded key fob 18 in the compartment 10 isdetected and authenticated, such that the car can be started by merelypushing the button 14 without the use of a key, in the well knownmanner.

According to the present invention, a transmission lever lock 22 isprovided, such as described in U.S. 2009/0151412A1, which positivelyprevents movement of the transmission selector or shift lever 12 to adrive position unless the brake pedal 24 is depressed and also unlessthe key fob 18 in the passenger compartment 12 is again detected andauthenticated by the system controller 16.

According to the invention, such detection-authentication necessary toshift the lever 12 is not carried out at the same time as when theignition detection-authentication is carried out. This secondauthentication is carried out at the time the brake pedal is pressed anda signal is generated and sent by a sensor 26 which detects the pressingof the brake pedal 24 to the smart key controller 22, which carries outa second detection authentication of the key fob 18 prior to operatingthe release of the transmission lever lock actuator 22.

Thus, if the key fob 18 is removed from the passenger compartment 10after the car is started, the vehicle will not be able to be operated asthe transmission lever 12 will remain locked even when the brake pedalis pressed.

This prevents operation of the vehicle even after the key fob 18 hasbeen initially authenticated and the car started and running, and thuspositively prevents operation of the vehicle unless the key fob 18 isauthenticated as being within the passenger compartment.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for operating a vehicle comprising: akey comprising at least one electronic code; and a processor configuredto authenticate and detect the key, wherein the vehicle comprises: avehicle movement selector; and a brake system, wherein the processor isconfigured to perform a primary authentication of the at least oneelectronic code and detection of the key within the vehicle at the timea vehicle starter activation is attempted and again upon activation ofthe brake system after the vehicle is started and a secondaryauthentication of the at least one electronic code at the time thevehicle starter is activation is attempted and again upon activation ofthe brake system after the vehicle is started, and wherein the processoris configured to enable use of the vehicle movement selector followingthe primary or secondary authentication of the at least one electroniccode.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the primary authentication ofthe at least one electronic code enabling activation of the vehiclestarter comprises detection of the key within the passenger compartmentof the vehicle.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the primaryauthentication of the at least one electronic code enabling use of thevehicle movement selector comprises detection of the key within thepassenger compartment of the vehicle when a person is within thepassenger compartment of the vehicle.
 4. The system of claim 1, whereinthe at least one electronic code authenticated in the firstauthentication is the same as the at least one electronic codeauthenticated in the second authentication.
 5. The system of claim 1,wherein the at least one electronic code authenticated in the firstauthentication differs from the at least one electronic codeauthenticated in the second authentication.
 6. The system of claim 1,wherein the key is a digital key.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein thekey is a mobile coded key.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the keycommunicates wirelessly with a controller.
 9. The system of claim 1,wherein the key is a connected key.
 10. A system for operating a vehiclecomprising: a key comprising at least one electronic code; and aprocessor configured to authenticate and detect the key, wherein thevehicle comprises: a vehicle movement selector; and a brake system,wherein the processor is configured to perform a primary authenticationof the at least one electronic code and detection of the key within thevehicle before the vehicle is started and again before movement of thevehicle from a parked position and a secondary detection of the key andauthentication of the at least one electronic code at the time thevehicle starter activation is attempted and again before movement of thevehicle from a parked position, and wherein the processor is configuredto enable use of the vehicle movement selector following the primary orsecondary authentication and detection of the at least one electroniccode.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the key is a digital key. 12.The system of claim 10, wherein the key is a mobile coded key.
 13. Thesystem of claim 10, wherein the key communicates wirelessly with acontroller.
 14. The system of claim 10, wherein the key is a connectedkey.